Structural unit



Dec. 19, 1944. w. CRAWFORD STRUCTURAL UNIT Filed Sept. 1.7, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 21,2 FIG. 1. Y

.De.19,1944. W CRAWFORD 2,365,175

S TRUCTURAL UNIT Y Filed seP'b- 17, 1942 3 Sheets-$heet 2 B 4a FIG. 7.

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Dec. 19, 1944. W CRAWFORD v 2,365,175

STRUCTURAL UNIT- Filed Sept. 17, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet Si F IG.' l5.

Patented Dec. 19, 1944 Aopl'ieationisepteuiter17, i942,.-sefiemoeste fy incrementan! Jul-y 30;*,1942

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This inventionhas reference to an improvement m the con-struction ofy gird'ers, beams and 'stanchions andto the construction of portable Structures; incorporating the improved' construet'i'onfofgirder,` beam or s-tanchion', particularly in the construction and erection of portable build- 'irigs-Suehf as aeroplane' hangars, storage sheds or the like,` or iii-the' construction and erectionof walls or roofs? or .portablebridgesor other struc'jtureskaid'apt'ed tol resist Verticalor horizontal loads or acoznbination thereof; t 4 According to-,my invention'a girder", bearnor starren-ion of? Iatticeework construction lcomprises a plurality of pentagonal units joined together endl to end, each unit being a braced structure comprising a-\pai-`r of parallel members of" equal length joined together atene end' by astra-ight end? member and joinedtogether at the other end by a pair ot convergentendvmer'bersiorr'ning ai re-entrant' angl'ebetween them .umrispreferebly braced by the provi.

sionlb'etweeni the parallel members of one or more straight transverse: bracihgmembers', `pre'lerailoly parallel tol the straight end- I'nember aindlprefer equds'antlly dssdf 0`r q''a'lly spaced Toe-"- tween: tllieerds` otfth'e parallel' members' in corribnationlWithldiageriallbracing; V l

The members. cSf-i the pair of convergent -erid members are preferably b'r'icedl by a# diagonal bracing memberir'iterposed between the p'ointof their convergence andi oneend or the" adjecent transverse; bracing member.. This interposeddi -agona'l member? may be'k formed' by: inl--inr`1e ex'- aforesaid and if .the .unitsfarez usedonliyifor' a tension of one of the convergent members, arid the'v diagonali bracing'between: the* parallel 'members is preferably parallel to'v the said' convergent end members.,` A 1 It isl preferredv that eaclrgirder, vbeam or" staincl-iionr bebuil-t-up of a. plurality of similarf p'eiitagonaLun-its of Standard size. and shape as' aforesaid.'v each rstandard. unit having ai central transversebracingmember' and 'one' diagonal' bracing member parallelto the extended envergent'end n 1ember; ..saidvvv diagonali; member extendingl between thewtransverse bracing: member. and the greater in length than the main standard. unit andequal infle'r'igtli to any multiple of one-*ghalf the lengti of: the maiifrstanda'rd untmay" be prokvided, each such longerunit being provided with y correspondingly"greaiterrriiiiiber of transverse The may befconetrueted of steeior any otnef'niateralor eomtiriation or materials. suitable for structural pti'rposs; f

' The eeinporieiitarlts'and. tlliel joints' between the componenty pary fi deli unit may' be made anyffknown marmer te. provide a pre-formed fu and the joints'fbetweem pre-formed .units ibeeiectedwbvwfeiding, riveting, boltingi, or

by the use of si'i. platee orn otherv connecting .mem-liefern any;kne'vvziairiarmer..ky f

A feature of the improved unit that, when K two units are assemble'dstogether with thestraight end memberfoi tone. unit clos-ing: the rei-entrant angle formed by the'lcerrver'gent en'dmemlbersi of the: other.' unitand the tilvofunits` are=.secured togetl'ier' at their jfunction,they straightuerid rnember of one unit acts to stiften the support of the support; or theextremities: et the innerxand. outer members of. the other. unit,V without necessitating the provisioir of adirliti'onal` stays or's'truts. In' constructing: a. p",.'n'talo'ley building, suoli, as aeroplane. hangar. or: ,thezlikez according to7 'my invention/,Leimen 61%' .botlr .the rafters'. and wall postsmely beA formed; .of svn-.assembly ofiunits as portion: ot the structure/, the remainder of-i` the -structureiznay constructedfin any known man',

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Iniit's':prefe'rred `fermi..aportabler building ac*- cording to the invention-basl alltherafters and wall posts `formed oi .arrV assembly `or units as .afforjesaid pentagonal: .units of: suitable size. and modied i shape :being .provided forr the. corner iioints'between. the wallwposts and rafters. 'Tlre rafters u:mayfgbe' horizontalaor inclined and' the wallfpostomay-beweither vertical or splaifed as desi1ed.; \ariatons thee dimensions. offv the struetureamayibev effected byvaryirig thel .numbers.y and; sizek of.' sta,ndardl or4 sub -stazidard' units .used `in ftlrenconstructionx ,of` the Wall posts-and raftersI 01' :by `varying the size ofithe units used fonjthecorner loints.

-. ,P Tnitsg;'a :,c:l i"cl-ihg tofthef iI-LiIe'tiiiriv may also" lbe usedl inf, the.'y conetm'mtsi'nv of. longitudinal binders' or purlins for ,the AWallsaxnl' recitv of a struc= ture; N 2 f v; The various`v` unitsi may have standardisedholes for the; receptionyo connecting. belts;` rivets-.lv or other'fasten'inge#A In order that the several units may be used in the construction of inclined rafters, it is preferred that the straight end member of each unit be secured to the inner and outer parallel members at an angle which is the complement of the desired angle of inclination of the rafter,

so that the ends of the inner and outer parallel members will be vertically above each other in the assembled and erected rafter, thus providing more convenient connection to the posts or other members of the end framing of the building.

In the construction of girders, posts, purlins or other structural members, other than inclined walls and rafters, it may be convenient for each -unit employed in the construction'thereof to be so shaped that the extremities of the inner and outer parallel members lie at the corners. of a circumscribing rectangle, that is to Say. with the and rafters built up of pentagonal structural units according to the invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side view of the unit shown in Fig, 1.

Fig. 8 is an end view on the line 8-8 in Fig. '7, Fig. 9 is an end view on lin'e 9-9 and Fig. 10 an end View on line Ill-I0 in Fig. 7.

Figs. 11 and 12 are sectional views to a larger scale on lines lI-I I and |2-l2 respectively in Fig. '7.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary side view showing the vjunction of an inclined wall post to a roof rafter, L45

showing also the outer covering or sheeting.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of one of the lower joints between adjacent structural units, showing the attachment of longitudinal binders and for convenience of illustration the members 28 and 39 areiomitted from the View.

Figs. 15 and 16 are plan and side views respectively of one end portion of an aeroplane hangar or storage shed built up of structural units according to .the invention, without the outer covering or sheeting in position.

Referring rstly to Figs. 1, 2 and 7-12, I have shown a pre-fabricated lattice-work structural unit of pentagonal form comprising .parallel channel or boom members Il and I8, an end member I9 and convergent end members 20 and 2|. The outer one of the two members 20 and 2| is extended at 22 to form a diagonal bracing member. The members II and I8 are of equal length and are preferably braced together by an intermediate transverse bracing member 23 parallel to the end member I9 and equidistantly spaced between the ends of the unit. A diagonal bracing member 24 is fitted parallel to the member 2|, 22 and a half-diagonal member 25 is tted parallel to the member 29.

The channel members I'I and I8 have their channels 'opposed to one another. The end channel memberls and intermediate member 23 are preferably inclined at an angle to the members Il and I8 which is the complement of the desired angle of slope of the roof, if the units are to be assembled together to form sloping roof rafters as shown at 26 in Fig. 6, but the members I9 and 23 may be at right angles to the members I'I and I8 or at any other desired angle if the units are to be assembled together to form horizontal or vertical girders, beams or stanchions, or inclined wall posts illustrated at 2l in Fig. 6.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 7 to 12, the channel members I9, 2|, 22, 23 and 24 preferably have an external width less than the interna] width of the channels of the members Il and I8, so that the ends of the intermediate members fit within the channels of the membersk I1 and I8 and permit of the insertion of gusset plates 28 to 32 between the outer faces of the anges of the members I9 and 2I-24 and the inner faces of the flange of the members I'I and I8. These gusset fplates are secured to and between the overlapping flanges by rivets 33 or by means of bolts or welding. In order that the upper ends of the half-diagonal members 20 and 25 may t within the channels of the members 2l, 22 and 24, the members 20 and 25 have an external width equal to the internalwidth ofthe channels of members 2|, 22 and 24, so that they may be secured thereto by rivets 34 or by bolts or welding. As the lower ends of the members 29 and 25 are substantially narrowerthan the channel of the member I8 into which they lit, the connection of the lower ends of members 29 and 25 to the member I8 is effected by rivets or bolts 35, and distance pieces, washers or sleeves 35 are tted on the rivets or bolts 35 between the iianges of the members 29 and 25 and the anges of the member I8, as seen more clearly in Figs. 9 and 12.

On the drawings I yhave shown the members Il, I8, I9, 20, 23 and 25 as consisting of single rolled steel or pressed steel channels, whereas the members 2I, 22 and 24 each consist, as seen more clearly in Figs. 8, 11 and 12, of a pair of angle bars having opposed aligned webs. Obviously the members 2l, 22 and 24 might consist of rolled or pressed steel channels like the members` I'I and I8, or the members I 'I-2U, 23 and 25 might consist each of a pair of angle bars like the members 2| or 24, but in such case it will be understood that the angles of the members II and I8 must be butt-Welded together or and Fig 5 showing a unit equalto one and one half times the length of the unit shown in Fig. 2.

In this manner, sub-stanard units equal in length to any multiple ofthe unit shown in Fig. 4 may be constructed.

Fig. 3 illustrates a modied form of pentagonal unit 31 for use at corner joints, such as where roof rafters spring from wall. posts, as shown at 31 in Figs. 6 and 13. The corner unit 31 may bebuilt up in any suitable manner of channel members IIa, I'Ib and IBa, end members 39 and 4I) and intermediate bracing members,` gusset plates 38 being secured at the inner and outer angles as shown in Fig. 13. It will be observed from Figs. 6 and 13 that the structural unitsof the roof `rafters are disposed with the 'channel members. uppermost andthat the structural ioined to the 4members l1 andy 18o-fl the'ad'jaoent units o'f the wall 4posts and rafters, as `clearly 4 @andere Aanits of the-wall --posts 'have Athe members A'I'I on L'the outside. The membersl'lu'eand lI-8a of the ycorner iunitarealignedl with 'and roof unit, and 'themem'ber I1-b of the corner 'unit -f `is aligned withv land joined to ythe memberlvof theadjacent 'wall post unit. n L Y' IAdj acent standard 'areassembled together so that the vend -member I9 -of Ieach-uri-t 'closes the re-entrant angle formed by the end 'members r"i0 -i 20, '2l of the adjacent unit. Similarly the corner -unit 31 "(Fig. 3) -isassembledIsothatvthefmembers v4`3"!! and "4D closethe rca-entrant angles for-med apparentvfr'om Fig. 13. It will also' beiinderstood that the members `I 1 ofadjacent `units areialigned `with* one 'another and-that the members I8 are' also aligned with one another.- When so assembled, adjacent units are permanently or yde-v tachably secured togetherat their junctions such *as by the -useof iishplates I"4I '(Figs. 13 and 14) 'bolted to the abutting members I7 or .18, the

Iends 'of ythe webs of-'the members I1-or 1I8 -being provided withhbolt holes kv42 "(Figs. land 7) for =this purpose. Additional -s'liplatesflt-may also ItA will `be apparent -that, when the units are--A4 assembled together, the end member If'9 of v1one unit lacts to stiften the Asupport of the outerfextremitiesof vthe members '20 and l2`I of the adjacent 'unit and that 'the vmembers13'9 and l4l) 'similarlystiifen'the support'of the extrem-ities ofthe members 2U `and 2l of'ffthe adjacent 'roof and'wall units. p In the construction of portable buildings such 'as aeroplane hangars or portable sheds, ftran's'- -'verse 'iframes as 'illustratediin Fig. 16 may be vbuilt '15 up of penta'gonal unitsfaccording to my invention and the wall-posts may be either'verti'calf-or spJayed. Similarly, the roof 'rafters maybe either inclined as in Fig. 6 or horizontal, in which-latter v vease it FWin r-be understee'eiitnat tnefmembers frs 50 of the units will be at right angles to the members I'l and I8. As showniin Figs. 15 and 16, these transverse frames (designated 44 in Figs. 15 and 16) may be suitably spaced apart and connected by longitudinal binders er puriins 4s te which 55 external sheathing 4t (Figs. 6 and 13) may be' secured. Doors 41 (Figs. 15 and 16) of any convenient type may be tted to'either or both ends of the building.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 13, the purlins 45 are 60 of angle section metal; but for buildings which require to withstand heavy loads, the purlins may be of any section or built up of pentagonal units assembled and connected together end. to end in a manner similar tothe roof rafters and wall 65 posts.

The lower joints between adjacent structural units may be longitudinally braced together by means of longitudinal binders 48 secured at their ends to the fishplates 43, as shown in Fig. 14.

. I claim: f

1. A prefabricated structural unit of pentagonal form comprising a pair of parallel members of equal 'length joined together by a straight transverse end member, a diagonal bracing mem- 75 ber between oneend orfsai'idiparal-lel"members and vthejim-1cti-on between the opposite parallel memberandsaid transverse fmember, and ia fsu'b-'diagonalf member extend-ing 'from an intermediate vpeint -in-the said diagonal member to'fone end of 'said vlast mentioned parallel member.

-A prefabricated ystructural Vunit lof ypentagyonalform comprising .a lpair vofparallel members of equal length joined vtogether 'at one end 'by' 1a 'straight end member, rva straight intermediate "bracing member secured tosaid parallelmembers 'equidis'tantly between 'their rends and parallelfto saidend member, a main diagonal bracing memibersecure'd between the end of onelof said'p'ar-v 'allel members and the junction .of `said intermediate-bracing member |.with the other parallel. member, and a .sub-diagonal member extending lfrom an intermediate point in said main diagonal member toene 3errd of said i last `mentioned 'parallel'member. I i

'3. A structuralunit-as 'claimedin claim '2 including diagonal *bracing between the junctions vof fthe parallel members with `the Aendl and 'inter- Amedi-ate members.

4. A 'prefabricated lstructural unit of vvpentagonalfform comprising a pair -o parallel members of equal llength joined together at one end by la straight v'end member, .a plurality vof straight lintermediate bracing members secured in spaced relationship "between vsaid parallel members and in parallel relationship to said .end vmember', fia

mainfdiagonal bracing member .secured between 'the end of llone parallel member `andv the junction of the other parallel member with the intermediate-member most 'remote `from said end member, a sub-diagonal I bracing vmem-ber extending from 4an intermediate lpoint -in said `main diagonal member to the end `ofi-'said Alast-mentioned parallel .member and diagonal' bracing members between lsaid intermediate members and between -sai'deird rmember and the adjacent intermediate member.

k5. A structural unit as `claimed in claim 1` in 'which the -straightendime'm'ber is inclined ftothe -parallel members. f

v6. A preiabricated structural' unit fof pentagonal v'outline `and comprising ve vsubstal-itia'lly lco- Vplanar members outlining V'the unit, two of said umembers rbeing parallel and 'of channel section,

and the' other three o saidmembers being of smaller -width than .the'width between the flanges of -said channels'ection members, distance Vmemilbers inserted betweenft'he ends of the said three members and-the inside faces for theiiangesv oaf said channel section member, and means securing said members and distance pieces together sothat the parallel members are 4joined together at one end by a third member, while the fourth and fifth members extend diagonally, one from one end of one parallel member and the other from one end of the other-parallel member, the fourth member extending diagonally between and joining the parallel members and the fifth member extending between and joiningone 'parallel mem- Aber to an intermediate point in the fourth membracing the boom elements together at one end,4 another being a main diagonal bracing the otherv end of one boom element to the opposite boom element, and the third being'a sub-diagonal con-l necting one end of said last mentioned boom element to an intermediate point in the main diagonal, thereby to form a re-entrant brace between the boom elements on one end thereof.

8. A pre-fabricated structural unit of pentag- A onal form comprising a pair of parallel members of equal length joined together at one end by a straight end memberand joined together at their other ends by a pair of convergent end members forming a re-entrant angle between them, one of said convergent members being extended beyond the point of convergence inwards to one of the parallel members so that it forms a diagonal connection between the two parallel members, a straight transverse bracing member parallel to the straight end member and secured to said parallel` members equidistantly between their ends and to the junction of one of said parallel members with said extended member of the convergent end members, a diagonal bracing mem-` ber between the said transverse member andthe straight end member and parallel to said exl tended member of the convergent end members,

other Iends by a pair of oppositely inclined diagonal members of diierent lengths forming a reentrant angle between them, the longer diagonal member joining the end of one parallel member vto an intermediate point in the other parallel member, and the shorter diagonal member join-x ing the end'of said last mentioned parallel member to an intermediate point in the longer diagonal member, said units being assembled to cause the straight end member of one unit to close the .re-entrant angle formed by said diagonal mem- .bers of the adjacent unit, so that whenthe two units are secured together at their junctions, the straight end member of one unit stiiens the support of the extremities of the adjacent unit.

10. A pre-fabricated pentagonal structural unit comprising a pair of parallel boom members of channel form in section and of equal length and having their channels opposed, an end channel .member'joining said boom members together at one end, a transverse channel member joining saidboom members together and disposed equidistantly between their ends, a pair of main diagonal bracing members connecting said boom members together, said diagonal members being parallel to one another and at opposite sides of said transverse member. one of said diagonal members connecting one end of said end member to the opposite end of said transverse member, and the other diagonal member connecting the other end of said transverse member to the end v of the opposite boom member, and each diagonal member consisting of a pair of angle members Vhaving one pair of webs aligned, and a lpair o short oppositely inclined diagonal members connecting the main diagonal members to one of said ltogether at their other ends by a pair of convergeht end members forming a re-entrant angle between them, said units being assembled to cause the straightend member of one unit to close the re-entrant angle formed by the convergent end members of the adjacent unit, so that when the two units are secured together at their junctions, the straight end member of one unit stiiiens the support of the extremities of the adjacent unit and the end members of each pentagonal corner Iunit close the re-entrant angles formed by the convergent end members of the adjacent units of the wall post and'rafter.

l2. A lattice-Work structure comprising a multiplicity of exactly similar braced pentagonal units as specified in claim 1 joined together end to end, said units being assembled to cause the straight end member of each unit to close the re-entrant angle formed by the convergent end members of the adjacent unit, so that when adjacent units are secured together at their junctions, the straight end member of one unit stiiens the support of the extremities of the adjacent unit.

WILLIAM CRAWFORD. 

